Burglar Fled Bethel Police Into A Trap Of Thin Ice: PD

BETHEL, CT — A Danbury man fleeing the scene of a crime led police on a chase through the woods which ended with the man calling for help, according to the police report.

The Bethel Police Department was called to the area of Meckauer Circle on Christmas morning when a resident reported a man trying to enter a car parked in their driveway.

The officers who responded to the call said they saw Javon Priar, 18, of Crow's Nest Lane in Danbury fleeing through the nearby woods. An unoccupied vehicle, containing marijuana, ecstasy tablets and items stolen from other area vehicles, was running in the roadway with discarded items nearby, police said.

The Bethel police enlisted the aid of a K-9 unit from the state police and say they were eventually alerted to Priar's location when they responded to his cries for help. The suspect had attempted to escape across a frozen lake and became trapped when he fell through the thin ice.

"Bethel police attempted to enter the water to rescue the man, but were unable to do so because of adverse conditions," according to the police report. Police were eventually able to pull the suspect from the water using an object found nearby.

Priar was taken to the hospital for treatment for the time he spent in the icy cold water.

Police charged Priar with third-degree burglary, sixth-degree larceny, possession of a controlled substance, possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana, and interfering with an officer.

Priar was released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear before Danbury Superior Court on Jan. 5.